Meaning

"Behave yourself" means act properly: be polite, follow the rules, don't cause trouble. It is what parents and teachers say to children before a visit, a trip or a long car ride. Notice the reflexive "yourself": you are in charge of your own behavior, and the speaker is reminding you of that. For a group, it becomes "behave yourselves".

With children it is normal and neutral. With adults it changes. Among friends it is a joke with a wink, often at goodbyes or before a party: "Have fun tonight, and behave yourself." Said seriously to an adult, especially a coworker or a partner, it sounds like you are treating them as a child, and it can feel condescending. If an adult's behavior really is a problem, name the behavior: "Please don't interrupt the speaker."

In a conversation

EmmaVikram
  1. Emma
  2. Vikram
  3. Emma
  4. Vikram
  5. Emma
  6. Vikram

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  4. Used with adults in public, it's firm and a bit stern.

Check yourself

1Emma tells Vikram "Behave yourself" before his trip. What's her tone?
2Why can "Behave yourself" sound bad when said seriously to an adult coworker?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. Stress "have" in "behave". Say the first line like a parent and the last line with a grin.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.